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The efficiency of technological innovation plays a crucial role in the high-quality development of China’s high-tech industry. In this paper, 30 provinces in China are selected as research samples, and the three-stage DEA model and Malmquist productivity index are used to conduct static and dynamic research on the technological innovation efficiency of high-tech industries in each province during the period of the “12th Five-Year Plan” to the “14th Five-Year Plan”. At the same time, the grey prediction model and Tobit regression model are used to predict the technological innovation efficiency and analyse its influencing factors. The research results show that: in terms of static and dynamic analysis, after excluding the influence of environmental variables and random perturbations, comprehensive efficiency and scale efficiency are underestimated, while pure technical efficiency does not change, but the decline of scale efficiency becomes the primary reason restricting the improvement of technological innovation efficiency of China’s hi-tech industries; through the dynamic analysis of the Malmquist index, it can be seen that the improvement of technological efficiency of China’s hi-tech industries It is mainly reflected in pure technical efficiency, but the decrease of technical efficiency affects the improvement of technical innovation efficiency of Chinese high-tech industry. In the forecast of technological innovation efficiency, the input and output indicators of technological innovation efficiency of China’s high-tech industry in the period of 2023–2027 have a rising trend year by year, and among the nine indicators, the average annual growth of new product development expenditure is the fastest. In terms of influencing factors, the level of financial services and higher education significantly influence, while the degree of openness to the outside world and the degree of government expenditure do not have a significant impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of six processes including M (milling), G (grinding), MMP (milling and manual polishing), GMP (grinding and manual polishing), MCP (milling and CNC polishing), GCP (grinding and CNC polishing) on surface integrity and fatigue life of GH4169 are studied in this paper. The results show that grinding produce a larger degree of hardening compared to milling, and residual stress of grinding surface and milling surface are respectively compressive and tensile. Polishing can significantly reduce the surface roughness formed by the previous process. Surface tensile residual stress of milling is converted into compressive stress after polishing, while the degree of hardening and residual stress of grinding surface has no significant change after polishing. The roughness, residual stress, and hardening degree of the manual polishing and CNC polishing are similar, but there are many micro surface defects in the manual polishing surface. The fatigue life of GCP, MCP, GMP, and MMP gradually decreases. Therefore, the integration process of GCP can produce better surface integrity including surface roughness, hardening degree, and residual stress distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of lithium resources is of great significance for the development of modern technologies, as well as for civil and military industries. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is a region known for its abundance of lithium-rich salt lakes. However, the specific origin of lithium in these lakes is still unknown, which hinders the advancement of the lithium resource business in this region. To research this issue, this study involved the collection of 20 samples from Lakkor Co Salt Lake on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, encompassing samples of surface brine, cold springs, fresh lakes, and recharge rivers. The composition of anions and cations in these samples was determined. Furthermore, the analysis extensively utilized the Piper three-line diagram, Gibbs model, and ion proportion coefficient. The findings of this study indicate that as the moves from the recharge water system to salt lake, there is a transition in water type from strong carbonate to moderate carbonate and weak carbonate, as well as Na sulfate. This research based on a similar source of both lithium and boron, utilized ion correlation analysis and boron isotope study in the Lakkor Co area, and analyzed the source and transporting process of lithium. The main origin of lithium in Lakkor Co is the dissolution of lithium-rich rocks, recharge water systems, and deep hydrothermal fluids. These findings are highly significant in enhancing the foundational data of lithium-rich brine resources in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and are beneficial for assessing the future development of such deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is limited research on the variations in brine element changes and the factors that influence them during large-scale exploitation. The Xitaijnar Salt Lake in the Qaidam Basin is a large brine lithium deposit. In this study, we investigated the variations in chemical composition and the factors that influence intercrystalline brine at different time periods. Hydrochemistry, mineralogy, and hydrogeochemical simulation methods were employed to understand the brine evolution. Our results indicate that after nearly 20 years of exploitation, the intercrystalline brine still belongs to the magnesium sulfate subtype, with only slight variations in salinity. The concentrations of Na, K, and SO4 showed a slight increase, while the content of Mg and Cl decreased slightly. The concentrations of B and Li exhibited minor fluctuations. The provenance, water level, and hydraulic connection had minimal influence on the chemical composition of the intercrystalline brine. By contrast, the dynamic dissolution and precipitation of sulfate minerals and halite, as well as drastic changes in hydrological conditions (such as floods), were identified as the main factors affecting the chemical composition of brine. With the large-scale extraction of intercrystalline brine, the content of elements in the salt lake showed a decreasing trend. This can be attributed to the fact that intercrystalline brine is formed through long-term evaporation and concentration. Therefore, during the exploitation process, it is crucial to monitor the hydrochemical variations of intercrystalline brine and understand the controlling factors. The results of this study may prove useful for the sustainable development and utilization of salt lake resources worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digital economy has played a vital role in changing economic and social development patterns and has had a multifaceted impact on carbon neutrality. This paper strives to contribute to the existing research by analyzing the relationship between the digital economy and electricity consumption intensity and providing a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms that influence the digital economy and energy consumption, particularly focusing on electricity consumption intensity through the construction of a theoretical model. To fulfill this objective, this study introduces the development level of the digital economy into the production function of representative power enterprise, constructs a partial theoretical equilibrium analysis framework, calculates provincial digital economy development indices for Chinese provinces from 2013–2021 using the CRITIC method, and examines the impact of the digital economy on power consumption intensity. The results show that the digital economy can reduce the intensity of power consumption. A unit standard deviation increase in the digital economy development level reduces power consumption intensity by 0.1008 standard deviations. The study also conducts a mechanism analysis with economic growth as the mediating variable, which shows that the digital economy promotes economic growth and reduces electricity consumption intensity. The moderating effect of the digital economy on power consumption is further examined using local government fiscal pressure as the moderating variable. The results show that the impact of the digital economy on reducing power consumption intensity decreases with the increase of government fiscal pressure. This study not only contributes to practical applications but also enhances our comprehension of the interplay between the digital economy and power consumption. On the one hand, the development of the digital economy can reduce power consumption, thus reducing carbon emissions and achieving low-carbon growth. On the other hand, central governments can promote the development of the digital economy by reducing the fiscal pressure on local governments through transfer payments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital transformation has emerged as a powerful force in reshaping the business landscape and enabling organizations to enhance their capabilities. One critical aspect of this change is how it impacts an enterprise’s innovation ability. To explore this question, we select data regarding China’s A-share listed enterprises from 2007 to 2021 as the research sample. We employ crawler technology to gather keywords related to “digital transformation” from annual reports, portraying detailed journeys of enterprises’ digital transformation. Through descriptive statistics and multiple covariance tests, a linear relationship is established between digital transformation and innovation ability. Benchmark regression is conducted and a robustness test is utilized to determine the robustness of the benchmark regression. The mechanism, heterogeneity, and moderating effects of this study are also tested. The results reveal that digital transformation makes a significant positive contribution to the innovation capability of enterprises. Meanwhile, among different types of enterprises, the impact of digital transformation on enterprise innovation capability shows heterogeneity. In terms of the impact mechanism, digital transformation can enhance the innovation output of enterprises by reducing the agency cost and improving the risk-taking level of enterprises, so as to further improve the innovation capability of enterprises. The research results of this paper provide essential theoretical support for the digital transformation of enterprises and the government’s formulation of enterprises’ digitalization strategies. More profoundly, it provides significant reference for how to further promote the digital transformation of Chinese enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact resistance of coating/substrate systems is still lacking comprehensive understanding, especially for the thermal spray of wear-resistant coatings for coated components in potential applications with heavy-load impact service condition. The impact responses of a thermal spray WC-Ni coating/steel substrate were studied systematically by varying the coating thicknesses from 50 to 300 μm under an impact load of 1–10 kN. Besides conventionally employed crater depth/volume for impact evaluation, a critical impact load is identified to quantify the impact resistance with cracking. Considering the observed cracking modes, two critical loads of Lcc and Lcm have been defined corresponding to the cohesive failure of cracking in coatings and the mixed cohesive–adhesive failure including interface cracking, respectively. Increasing the coating thickness up to 200 μm raised the critical load Lcm from 7.4 to 11.1 kN, followed by a drop to 7.4 kN of Lcc at 300 μm. To reveal the influence of coating thickness, a major surface integrity parameter is proposed as the coating deformation in proportion to the total value of coating/substrate system in correlation to the impact resistance. The dependence of impact resistance on coating thickness is interpreted through the surface integrity changes by the thermodynamic mechanism of effective energy input and dissipation into the coating/substrate system from the external impact load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNA helicases (RHs) are a family of ubiquitous enzymes that alter RNA structures and remodel ribonucleoprotein complexes typically using energy from the hydrolysis of ATP. RHs are involved in various aspects of RNA processing and metabolism, exemplified by transcriptional regulation, pre-mRNA splicing, miRNA biogenesis, liquid–liquid phase separation, and rRNA biogenesis, among other molecular processes. Through these mechanisms, RHs contribute to vegetative and reproductive growth, as well as abiotic and biotic stress responses throughout the life cycle in plants. In this review, we systematically characterize RH-featured domains and signature motifs in Arabidopsis. We also summarize the functions and mechanisms of RHs in various biological processes in plants with a focus on DEAD-box and DEAH-box RNA helicases, aiming to present the latest understanding of RHs in plant biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to achieve a specific unlocking of the butterfly effect: nanointerface-based electrochemical biosensing of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Based on the Faraday-cage concept reported first by our group, we built a new outer Helmholtz plane (OHP)-based electrochemical biosensor by using an unique nanocomposite involving three-dimensional graphene-Au nanoparticles (3D-GO-AuNPs), tetrahedral DNA nanostructures (TDNs), and separated ATP aptamers, in which methylene blue (MB) was employed as the electrochemical signal output. In this process, the prepared nanocomposites were attached favorably onto the TDN substrate electrode surface due to the interaction of ATP and its aptamer, creating a better OHP of the electrode owing to its large enough specific surface area; then a detection limit of 0.25 pM was calculated by 3δ/slope. Whereas, the hydrolysis for ATP of ALP can hinder this binding process, therefore, the biosensor could be indirectly applied for ALP analysis with a detection limit of 0.21 mU/L (3δ/slope). Since some small changes of the two targets will set off a whole series of changes in system, the OHP-extended biosensor provides a superior electrochemical platform for complex biological processes with causal relationships in clinical diagnosis and drug development, similar to the butterfly effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regulatory sandbox, which promotes FinTech innovation, is expected to significantly improve the symmetry of regulatory information. However, it is not clear whether we should follow the principle of maximization or moderation when this occurs. Using the objective weighting CRITIC method, we calculate China's provincial FinTech innovation index from 2008 to 2019, to explore the relationship between regulatory information symmetry and the FinTech innovation level. The results show that regulatory information symmetry and FinTech innovation level have an inverted U-shaped nonlinear relationship. Following the improvement of symmetry in regulatory information, the FinTech innovation level first increases and then decreases. These findings are consistent with the predictions of the cognitive closure theory, cognitive needs theory, and optimal information theory. Therefore, we conclude that the regulatory sandbox should follow the principle of information moderation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to increase the photocatalytic performance of titanium dioxide mesocrystals (TMCs), in this study, Ag nanoparticles with different mass content were first photodeposited on the surface of as-prepared TMCs to form heterostructured Ag–TMCs catalysts, followed by loading them on g-C3N4 via one step "bottom-to-up" calcination method. The results of photocatalytic degradation toward RhB experiments showed that the prepared ternary photocatalyst of g-C3N4/Ag–TMCs exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity not only compared with the bare TMCs and Ag–TMCs, but also with all of those reported TiO2/Ag/g-C3N4 ternary photocatalysts. Such improved photocatalytic properties were attributed to the synergistic effect created by the LSPR effect and an important role as an electron-conduction bridge of Ag and the existence of heterojunction structure formed between Ag, TMCs and the further coupling g-C3N4, which added to the evidences that enabled the prepared g-C3N4/Ag–TMCs catalyst enhanced transfer efficiency of photogenerated carriers and suppressed recombination rate of electron-hole pairs. Moreover, the deposited Ag content had a positive effect on the photocatalytic degradation efficiency. On the basis of the results of this study, the specimen of g-C3N4/9% Ag–TMCs showed RhB degradation efficiency up to 100% under only 15 min visible-light irradiation. A possible degradation mechanism was also proposed based on several characterizations including photoluminescence spectrum and a serious of photoelectrochemical measurements. Overall, the prepared g-C3N4/Ag–TMCs ternary photocatalyst with good recyclability looked promising for future practical applications in the visible-light photodegradation of organic pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The RNA modification 5-methylcytosine (m5C) is one of the most prevalent post-transcriptional modifications, with increasing evidence demonstrating its extensive involvement in the tumorigenesis and progression of various cancers. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. However, the role of m5C modulators in shaping tumor microenvironment (TME) heterogeneity and regulating immune cell infiltration in CRC requires further clarification. Results: The transcriptomic sequencing data of 18 m5C regulators and clinical data of patients with CRC were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and systematically evaluated. We found that 16 m5C regulators were differentially expressed between CRC and normal tissues. Unsupervised cluster analysis was then performed and revealed two distinct m5C modification patterns that yielded different clinical prognoses and biological functions in CRC. We demonstrated that the m5C score constructed from eight m5C-related genes showed excellent prognostic performance, with a subsequent independent analysis confirming its predictive ability in the CRC cohort. Then we developed a nomogram containing five clinical risk factors and the m5C risk score and found that the m5C score exhibited high prognostic prediction accuracy and favorable clinical applicability. Moreover, the CRC patients with low m5C score were characterized by “hot” TME exhibiting increased immune cell infiltration and higher immune checkpoint expression. These characteristics were highlighted as potential identifiers of suitable candidates for anticancer immunotherapy. Although the high m5C score represented the non-inflammatory phenotype, the CRC patients in this group exhibited high level of sensitivity to molecular-targeted therapy. Conclusion: Our comprehensive analysis indicated that the novel m5C clusters and scoring system accurately reflected the distinct prognostic signature, clinicopathological characteristics, immunological phenotypes, and stratifying therapeutic opportunities of CRC. Our findings, therefore, offer valuable insights into factors that may be targeted in the development of precision medicine-based therapeutic strategies for CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lithology and genesis of a dark grey clastic interlayer first encountered within the deepest potassium-rich salt body in the Simao Basin, southwestern China, were analysed. Analyses of the petrography, mineralogy, and element geochemistry of the layer revealed that (1) the layer contains quartz crystals with gulf corrosion edges and explosion cracks and angular volcanic ash-sized glasses; (2) the main mineral components of the crystal fragments are chlorite, illite, biotite, quartz, anhydrite, gypsum, magnesite, pyrite, molybdenite, clinopyroxene, and zircon; (3) the rare earth element patterns, Zr/TiO2 and Nb/Y diagrams as well as boron content all indicate a volcanic origin for the layer. Based on these observations, the layer is suggested to be an altered tuff associated with various volcanic fragments dominated by chlorite and formed after alteration of a parent tuff in an alkaline, salty, and low-temperature water body. Discovery of the layer indicates that the potash-bearing salt rocks could have taken in volcanic materials during these volcanic activities and provides the possibility of reliable zircon U‒Pb dating to determine the absolute age of the host rock, which is fundamental in studying the genetic mechanism of this deeply buried salt body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Karst is the most common ore-controlling structure in Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) Pb–Zn deposits. However, the formation process of karst caves that contain ores and their related Pb–Zn mineralization in fold-thrust belts is poorly understood. The Changdong MVT Pb–Zn deposit is hosted by karst caves located in the fold-thrust system of the Simao basin, Sanjiang metallogenic belt, Tibetan Plateau. The Changdong deposit is an ideal natural laboratory for studying the effects of karst on Pb–Zn mineralization in MVT deposits. The ore bodies in this deposit are hosted by a large-scale carbonate breccia and bedded sediments belt within the late Permian limestones, which are situated in the hanging wall of the regional Longshu thrust fault. The δ13CV-PDB values of the limestone fragments from the breccias range from − 4.2 to 4.1‰. They are similar to those of overlying limestone strata, indicating that the fragments were mainly derived from autochthonous limestones in the overlying strata. Energy-dispersive spectroscopy analysis indicates that the bedded sediments and the matrices of the carbonate breccias contain K–Al silicate clay minerals, quartz, rock fragments, and calcite fragments. Detrital zircons from bedded sediments contain five discrete age populations ranging from the Jurassic to the Paleoproterozoic, indicating that the matrix materials were derived from the weathered sediments of metamorphic and magmatic rocks along the western margin of the Simao basin. Bedded sediments dominated by exogenous materials are actually speleothems. When contextualized with recently published data placing the Changdong deposit formation in the early to middle Oligocene, our data suggest that the Changdong deposit formed within a meteoric paleokarst system. The Pb–Zn ores are hosted by the speleothems in the breccia belt and comprise microspherulitic or colloidal sphalerite and euhedral galena. The sphalerite and galena precipitated by filling voids and replacing calcite crystals in faded speleothems. The pyrite and galena δ34SV-CDT values from the Changdong deposit range from − 16.9 to 15.8‰, indicating a pre-existing H2S reservoir interpreted as a result of bacterial sulfate reduction (BSR). A three-stage process for the Changdong deposit was proposed as last. First, the Permian limestone was uplifted to the near-surface by regional thrusting during the India-Eurasia collision, and karst caves formed by meteoric dissolution. Second, a reduced sulfur trap formed by BSR in the paleokarst caves during continual regional compression. Third, metal-rich fluids migrated into the Changdong deposit via tensile faults formed during the transition from compressive stress to extensional strike-slip stress as a result of progressive rotation of the regional strain axes. The Pb–Zn sulfides were likely precipitated by low-temperature fluid mixing. This study provides new data to establish a geologically consistent framework for the evaluation of karst caves and related MVT Pb–Zn mineralization in fold-thrust systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the present study was to explore the feasibility and safety of the surgical resection of presacral tumors via a transsacrococcygeal transverse incision. Methods: The clinical data and prognoses of patients with presacral tumors who underwent surgery at the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital between January 2009 and December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Results: A total of 110 patients with presacral tumors were included in this study, including 82 female patients and 28 male patients, with a female-to-male ratio of 2.9:1. A posterior approach (transsacrococcygeal transverse incision) was utilized in 105 patients, an anterior approach (transabdominal excision) was utilized in 1 patient, and a combined (posterior plus anterior) approach was utilized in 4 patients. The mean tumor size was 8.72 ± 4.28 cm. More than half of the patients (n=59/110) with presacral tumors were asymptomatic. Twenty-six pathological types were observed in our study, including 97 benign lesions and 13 malignant lesions. The intraoperative complication rate was 42.7% (n=47/110), whereas the postoperative morbidity rate was 3.6% (n=4/110). The length of hospital stay for patients treated with the posterior approach was shorter than that of patients treated with the anterior and combined approaches. After a mean follow-up of 90.13 ± 31.22 months, 11 patients had local presacral tumor recurrence, and 1 patient had distant metastasis, with a combined recurrence rate of 10.9% (n=12/110). Conclusions: The surgical resection of primary presacral tumors via a transsacrococcygeal transverse incision is feasible and safe, with acceptable oncological therapeutic outcomes and a low postoperative morbidity rate, making it worth popularizing in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potash-bearing deposit was located in the Vientiane Basin of Laos where exists one of eastern Tethys metallogenic belt. The water-insoluble of Thongmang mining area in this basin were selected as carrier, through leaching and analysis, showed the water-insoluble minerals mainly include anhydrite, boracite, hilgardite, carbonate, quartz and muscovite, in which anhydrite, boracite and muscovite were dominant minerals. Mineralogical and morphological analyses of the water-insoluble minerals from different borehole-derived potash mineral strata have elucidated the evolution process of brine salt formation and restore the paleo-potassium deposit environment. The water-insoluble minerals revealed that the sedimentary environment in the late stage of salinity belongs to the shallow water disturbing environment. Accompanied by the fluvial influx and the influence continued, under the strong influence of terrestrial water body in the late salt-forming period, the evolution process of salt-forming brine will inevitably be affected. And the displacement of sedimentary center occurred during the metallogenic stage. Thus, this studies show that the characteristics of the water-insoluble can be used to retrieve the evolution process of brine salt formation and refect environment changes of the paleo-potassium deposits. In a word, the characteristics of water-insoluble minerals can provide effective information indicating the changes of sedimentary environments at the late stage of brine evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A kind of zwitterionic microsphere was prepared via one-step inverse suspension polymerization employing 3-[N,N-dimethyl-[2-(2-methylpropyl-2-enyloxy) ethyl] ammonium] propane-1-sulfonate (MSA) and N,N-methylene bisacrylamide (BIS) as the precursors. The preparation conditions were carefully investigated and optimized by regulating the content of total monomers, ratio of MSA to BIS, ratio of water to oil, and content of stabilizer. The properties of microspheres were characterized by helium ion microscopy (HIM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), N2 adsorption/desorption measurement, and water contact angle measurement. The particle size of resulting polydisperse microspheres ranged from 15–25 μm, exhibiting high specific surface area of 138 m2 g−1. Owing to great hydrophilicity, the resulting zwitterionic microspheres could be directly used as hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) sorbent to enrich glycopeptides from biosamples without any chemical modification. A total of 19 N-glycopeptides was enriched from 10 μg of IgG digest. Besides, up to 383 N-glycopeptides and 224 N-glycosylation sites were unambiguously identified from 2 μL of human serum digest by cLC-MS/MS after enrichment with zwitterionic microspheres, indicating their great enrichment performance to N-glycopeptides. The approach of preparing hydrophilic zwitterionic microspheres contains only one synthesis reaction and is suitable for large-scale preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Presacral tumors are a group of rare and heterogeneous tumors that arise from the potential presacral space between the rectum and sacrum. The low occurrence and diverse origins make the diagnosis and treatment of these tumors a challenge. The aim of the study was to retrospectively review patient demographics and to identify advantages and disadvantages in the diagnosis and treatment of these tumors. Methods: Retrospectively collected and reviewed data from patients who received treatment of presacral tumors at the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University between August 2009 and June 2019. Results: The data from forty-four patients (33 females) with a median age of 50 years who were diagnosed with a presacral/retrorectal tumor were analyzed. The majority of tumors were congenital (61.4%) and benign tumors are more common (59.1%). The median age of patients with benign tumor was significantly higher than that of malignant tumor. The most common symptoms were sacrococcygeal/perianal pain (56.8%) and mass (36.4%), and 8 out of 9 patients having lower limb symptoms diagnosed with malignant tumor. The tumor detection rate of digital rectal examination was 75% and more than 90% of all patients underwent one or more radiology imaging exams for tumor diagnosis. Every patient had a biopsy result. The most common type of tumor was presacral cyst (40.9%) with overall tumor median size of 5.6 cm. Thirty-one (70.5%) patients underwent surgery, most often via the posterior route (83.9%). Posterior route surgery had significantly shorter operation time and tumors operated via posterior route were significantly smaller. The survival rate after surgery was 100%. The median course of disease was 6 months and median follow-up was 25 months. Conclusions: Presacral tumors have low occurrence and are more frequently observed in females in their 30s and 50s indicating a possible link between tumor occurrence and hormonal changes. Patients with lower limb symptoms were more likely to have a malignant presacral tumor. Posterior route was the most commonly utilized surgical approach. Supplementary iodine tincture treatment of cysts ruptured in operation could potentially be helpful in reducing the chance of recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bromine (Br) is one of the trace elements in halite. Br content and the Br/chlorine (Cl) molar ratio can be used to reveal dry climates, the degree of evaporation, and/or brine concentration. The Br content of basal halite is more useful than that the Br content of halite from later stages when being used to distinguishing marine from nonmarine origins. Evaporite deposits on the Khorat Plateau (KP) have been a primary source of evaporites in southeastern Asia. The origin (i.e., marine, nonmarine, or a combination of the two) of these deposits is still disputed. In this study, we used the Br concentration of basal halite and the Br/Cl molar ratio to explore the origin of these deposits and the environmental changes that took place in the Late Cretaceous. We analyzed a total of 330 halite samples from borehole ZK2893 for cations (K+, Ca2+, Na+, and Mg2+) and anions (Br−, Cl−, and SO42−). The Br content ranged from 24.04 to 277.87 ppm, and the Br/Cl molar ratio ranged from 0.02 to 0.27 ppm. The low Br content (24.04 ppm) and Br × 103/Cl molar ratio (0.02) of the basal halite suggested that no marine water was in the basin when the halite precipitation began. The temporal variations in the Br content and the Br × 103/Cl molar ratio of halite implied that: (1) the climate in this area during the Late Cretaceous was dry, with two dry stages occurring from 92 to 85 Ma and from 80 to 72 Ma; and (2) the drying trend increased from 92 to 85 Ma and from 80 to 72 Ma, with two extremely dry events occurring during the periods 89–85 Ma and 76–73 Ma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve sufficient blood-brain barrier (BBB), penetration is one of the biggest challenges in the development of diagnostic and therapeutic for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Here, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the preclinical evidence and possible mechanisms of borneol for improving co-administration of CNS drug delivery in animal models. The electronic literature search was conducted in six databases. Fifty-eight studies with 63 comparisons involved 1137 animals were included. Among 47 studies reporting the assessments of CNS drug concentration, 45 studies showed the significant effects of borneol for improving CNS drug delivery (p<.05), whereas 2 studies showed no difference (p>.05). Nineteen comparisons showed borneol up-regulated BBB permeability (p<.05) using brain EB content (n = 8), Rh 123 content (n = 4), brain imaging agent content (n = 2), brain water content (n = 1) and observing ultrastructure of BBB (n = 4), whereas three studies showed no difference or unclear results. Seven studies reported the safety, in which one study showed borneol was reversible changes in the BBB penetration; six studies showed borneol did not increase co-administration of blood drugs concentration of peripheral tissues (p > .05). Effects of borneol are closely associated with inhibition of efflux protein function, releasement of tight junction protein, increasement of vasodilatory neurotransmitters, and inhibition of active transport by ion channels. In conclusion, borneol is a promising candidate for CNS drug delivery, mainly through mediating a multi-targeted BBB permeability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although bispectral index (BIS) has been widely used for predicting neurological outcomes in clinical practice, its optimal value concerning maximum (BISmax), minimum (BISmin) and mean (BISmean) on accurately predicting the prognosis of patients with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) after resuscitation has not been clearly determined. Methods: For a total number of 45 cases, the duration of each BIS measurement was 12 h, with the data collected at a 30 min interval. Outcome was recorded as survival and non-survival count 60 days after the resuscitation. Receiver operator characteristic curve was used to assess the BISmax, BISmin and BISmean for predicting clinical outcome. Results: By the end of observation, 20 cases (44.4%) survived with a significantly higher BISmax. The area under the curve for BISmax of predicting survival was the highest compared to BISmin and BISmean. The optimal cut-off value of BISmax was 71.5 with 100% sensitivity and 60% specificity. Ten patients presented BIS value down to zero at any time point did not survive the observation. Conclusion: The BISmax is a better outcome predictor than BISmin or BISmean for patients with HIE after resuscitation. Lower BISmax represents higher risk of mortality. Additionally, BIS value decreases to zero represents a poor outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary Objective: We aimed to assess the utility of bispectral index (BIS) monitoring to diagnose brain death (BD) in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Research Design and methods: A prospective observational study was conducted for patients with severe TBI between 2012 and 2014. Main outcomes And results: This study included 62 patients with a mean age of 32.5 ± 10.5 years. Nine patients had BD on admission with a sustainable BIS value of 0. Fifty-three patients were not initially diagnosed with BD with BIS values of 2–56. Forty-four patients deteriorated to BD, and their respective BIS values progressively decreased to 0. Nine patients with mean BIS of 39.2 ± 9.0 recovered and were transferred to a specialized high dependency unit. BIS values showed positive correlation with the Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) on admission (r = 0.43, p = 0.001). Survivors had higher BIS values than those who were initially declared BD or those who died during the hospitalization course (p = 0.001). Conclusion: BIS values have a significant correlation with initial GCS and can assist in the early detection of BD in patients with severe acute TBI. Further larger studies are needed to support our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The neurogenic tumor of frequent occurrence in the presacral area is a schwannoma. Giant presacral schwannoma has a risk for anterior surgical approach because of its massive size and proximity to abundant vascularity of presacral region. We report a single stage posterior approach for total resection of a giant presacral schwannoma. A 40-year-old female patient experienced left buttock pain and tingling sensation at left S1 dermatome. Magnetic resonance imaging showed that the presacral huge mass at S1-3 level with osseous extension and structural remodeling in left sacral ala. The presacral mass was ranging in maximum diameter from 8.0 to 8.6 cm. S2 foramen laminectomy was performed to expose the mass. The tumor capsule and the root were carefully dissected away. The tumor was removed while preserving the capsule by dissecting the plane between the inner wall of the capsule and the tumor. The single stage posterior approach for presacral giant schwannoma is feasible, and it can be a good surgical alternative to prevent pelvic organ or vascular damage and anterior approach related dystocia and infertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xanthogranulomatous cystitis (XC) is a rare condition affecting the bladder thought to be caused by chronic inflammation. Fewer than 30 cases have been reported in the literature since being first described in 1932. We present the first reported case of XC in a pre-pubertal male and review the literature. A 10-year-old boy presenting with dysuria subsequently developed frequency. After failure of conservative management, an ultrasound of the bladder revealed a mass. The patient underwent partial cystectomy. Pathology showed XC. At 10 months postoperatively, the patient remained asymptomatic and without evidence of recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xanthogranulomatous cystitis (XC) is a very rare chronic benign inflammatory disease of the bladder. It may cause local invasion although it is not a malign lesion and may occur together with malign lesions. It has a clinical importance as the distinction from malign lesions is difficult clinically and pathologically. Sharing a 37-year-old female case with giant XC imitating bladder tumor referring to the hospital with hematuria and stomach ache, together with current literature, we wanted to present that the disease can be treated with bladder-preserving approaches instead of radical approaches even though the mass is big in these cases. Application of basic excision and partial resection for small masses and radical cystectomy for large masses was reported in literature. We think that our case may provide a contribution to literature in treatment approach since we provided surgical cure with partial resection in a big mass with dimensions of 9 cm × 8 cm which is different from the present literature. Even though XC is a rare disease, it should be considered in prediagnosis for especially big dimensioned masses, and treatment should be planned according to the pathology result after together with cystoscopy in suitable patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shensong Yangxin capsules (SSYX) are an effective traditional Chinese medicine that has been used to treat coronary heart disease clinically. The present study aimed to establish whether SSYX prevent ischemic arrhythmias in rats, and to explore the underlying mechanisms. Male rats were pretreated with distilled water, SSYX and amiodarone for one week. Acute myocardial ischemia (AMI) was performed to induce ischemic arrhythmias. The incidence and severity of ischemic arrhythmias were evaluated. The action potential, transient outward K+ current (Ito) and inward rectifier K+ current (IK1) of rat cardiomyocytes were measured using the patch-clamp technique. The intracellular Ca2+ concentration of the cardiomyocytes was measured using a laser scanning confocal microscope. The results revealed that SSYX lowered the incidence of arrhythmia markedly during AMI. Furthermore, SSYX delayed the appearance, and reduced the severity, of ischemic arrhythmias compared with the control. In addition, SSYX markedly decreased the ratio of the myocardial infarction region to the whole heart. In an in vitro study, SSYX prolonged the action potential duration of rat cardiomyocytes, and inhibited Ito and IK1 markedly. Additionally, SSYX inhibited Ca2+ elevation induced by KCl in cardiomyocytes. These results suggested that SSYX prevents ischemic arrhythmia, and the underlying mechanism responsible for this process may include prolonging the action potential and alleviating Ca2+ overload. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare earth elements (REE) are important tracers with which to explore sediment provenance. This study analyzed the distribution features of REE in surface sediments of the Yalu River estuary and determined their provenance. Estuarine systems of small rivers such as the Yalu River are suitable 'target areas' to understand sediment transport and transfer processes. The fractional characteristics of REE distribution plots, La/Yb, Eu and Ce anomalies, La/Yb − ∑REE dendrograms, and discriminant functions can all be used for provenance discrimination of the surface sediments in the Yalu River estuary. All these indicate that REE can be one of the most important tools for the study of the coupling mechanism between the watershed and coast, either as a provenance tracer or as a signal of environmental change. The results from this study show that the middle and upper reaches of the Yalu River do not directly supply sediments to the estuarine delta. The western branch transported most material before the construction of the Shuifeng Reservoir in 1941, and these sediments have diffused to other sections via re-suspension. The Dayang River directly supplies sediments to the coasts of the northern Yellow Sea, which is transported toward land under the action of tidal currents or storm surges. These findings also reveal that anthropogenic activities have halted Yalu River estuarine delta preservation and dominated regional landform development in the last 100 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seventy-five samples of surface sediment were collected from four transects in the South China Sea (SCS) for analyses of rare earth element (REE) geochemistry. Total REE abundance (∑REE) in the SCS varies from 45 to 195 ppm (average 128 ppm), lower than that of the upper continental crust. The spatial distribution of REE is strongly dependent upon the geographical location and depositional environment. Low ΣREE concentrations are observed on the continental slope (e.g., Xisha and Nansha islands), while high ΣREE concentrations are present in the deep basin. Sediments on the slope are also characterized by lower LREE/HREE, (La/Yb), Eu/Eu*, and Ce/Ce* ratios relative to deep-basin sediments. There is a positive correlation between AlO and ΣREE, and a negative correlation between CaO and ΣREE. Conversely, the relatively insignificant Fe-Mn oxide accumulation in the SCS suggests that manganese nodules do not make a significant contribution to the bulk REE composition of sediments. Therefore, the sediment REE geochemistry is mainly controlled by terrigenous and biogenic sources. Biogenic carbonate has a diluting effect on ΣREE concentrations, but a significant influence on LREE/HREE, Ce/Ce*, and (La/Yb) values is found only in sediments with especially high biogenic carbonate levels. The REE geochemistry of SCS surface sediments indicates that their source is mainly post-Archean felsic rocks. In the eastern sub-basin, the relatively low LREE/HREE ratios and high Eu/Eu* values of the sediments indicate that significant terrigenous materials are derived from young volcanic rocks (e.g., rocks in the Luzon arc). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bispectral Index (BIS) may be used in traumatic brain injured patients with different anatomical sites of injury to evaluate the level of consciousness. The objective of this study is to evaluate the relation between type of brain injury and the presence or absence of frontal lobe damage based on brain CT-scan with BIS monitoring in intubated acute head trauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: Participants of this cross-sectional study consisted of 30 intubated head trauma patients over the age of 15 years old, without any known history of visual or hearing impairments, neurologic disorders, mental retardation, or frontal skin laceration, who were admitted to the ICU in Rasool Akram University Hospital, Tehran. Patients who needed muscle relaxant administration, or those who showed instability of vital signs, hypoxemia, disorders of the blood biochemistry, or blood gases, liver or kidney failure, convulsion or hypoxic encephalopathy during the study were excluded. In the first three days of admission, each patient underwent monitoring of BIS every sixty minutes for just six hours a day. All the hypnotic drugs were discontinued six hours prior to the start of monitoring and fentanyl was the only opioid, which was administered if an analgesic was required. Statistical analysis were used to evaluate the data and p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Mean age of all patients was 43.6 years with a Standard Deviation (SD) of 18.96. Presence or absence of frontal lobe injury, had no statistically significant correlations with mean BIS in each three days of study and the mean BIS total. However, mean BIS in the second and third days had statistically significant differences in different types of cranial lesions (contusion, subdural hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, etc) which usually have different prognoses. Conclusion: Different kinds of acute traumatic cranial lesions with different prognosis may have different values in BIS monitoring. Presence or absence of frontal lobe injury, had no statistically significant correlations with BIS values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic study of the granulometric properties and the occurrence and distribution of rare earth elements (REE) within surface sediments from ten bays situated along the coast of Southeast China has facilitated a more rigorous understanding of constraints on sediment provenance in the area. The results show that REE concentrations are similar within a single bay, but vary considerably (133.58-251.77 mg/kg) among the bays. The chondrite-normalized distribution patterns show the typical enrichment of light REEs (LREEs: La-Eu) relative to heavy REEs (HREEs: Gd-Lu), and an apparent depletion of Eu, which is diagnostic of a terrigenous sediment source. Obvious enrichments of the middle REEs (MREEs: Sm-Ho) in the PAAS-normalized (Post-Archean Australian Shale) distribution patterns of these bay sediments are similar to results reported from large rivers in China. Comparing the REE composition of the bay sediments with those of adjoining fluvial sediments and with the bedrock of the surrounding drainage basins, the latter are indicated as the dominant sediment source. The uniform REE distribution patterns, and MREE enrichments, prove that the sediments are derived from the material transported by the streams and rivers that discharge into the bays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]